LEAGUE CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 22810, 19 November 1937, Page 4

LEAGUE CRICKET

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By J. V. C. W.) —Honours List.— Batting.—J. Gould (Town Hall) 102 not out, A. M'Lintock (T. and J.) 89, L. Werner (Inglis) 66, J. M‘Donald (Burts) 65 not out, A. Mason (Otago Brush) 69, N. Morrison (Burts) 68, W. Woltersdorf (Burts) 56, C. Stent (Self Help) 49, T. Brooks (Speights) 47, H. Cullen (Speights) 46, F. T. Allen (Lands) 45. B. Berry (Roslyn Mills) 43, P. Spence (Telgineers) 42, L. Pope (Standard) 42,. A. Turnbull (R. and G.) 41.

Bowling.—Howard (Burts) six for 11, Pope (Standard) three for 7, H. Kean (Loco.) four for 10, Fletcher (Railway) three for 8, Dixon (Tramways) six for 15, Lees (M.C.P.) nine for 22, Reid (Otago Brush) seven for 18, Short (Otago Brush) one for 9, Templeton (Post Office) five for 16, Trevathan (T. and P.) two for 7, Howie (Railway) four for 14, M'Fadyen (Loco.) four foV 15, Bedford (Glenross) three for 13, L; Payne (United) six for 25, Adcock (R. and G.) six for 26, J. Beck (E. P. and L.) six for 28, Wedlake (Self Help) two for 10, Eckhoff (Hillside) two for 11, Willers (Glenross) two for . 11, B. Berry (Roslyn Mills) six for 32, W. Dillon (Pride of the Leith) six for 33.

Conditions at the Oval last Saturday afternoon were unpleasant for _ those looking on and were not conducive to good cricket. ' The _ cold' wind, which blew from the direction of the 'harbour, was disconcerting to bowlers and batsmen alike. The third matches in the first round of the League competitions were played, there being a number of runaway victories and a few closelycontested games. It was only natural that the standard of cricket .played by those teams in the centre of the Oval should flop badly. In the A, B, and C sections there are several _ teams which have still to: produce their true form. So far this season E. P. and L. (A section) and Otago Brush (B section) have', proved the winners in all their matches, and. Burts (C section) have won two and drawn one. However, the performances of good players in different teams has varied to such an extent that it -would be very difficult for anyone, at this juncture, to accurately forecast the leaders of the three sections at the end of the first round.

Most League players are under the impression that the ohe-dajr matches as now played consist of one innings only, for each. side. ■ This is not correct. A member of the executive, at a meeting held a fortnight ago, brought up this important matter which was thoroughly discussed. In the event of both teams making small scores (and being out early in the afternoon) it was thought that provision should be made for a second innings to be placed. The following resolution was carried unanimously: —“That, in the event of both teams completing their first innings by 4.15, the captain of the team with the_ lower score has the option of putting in the other-team again.” If that side is again dismissed cheaply and the losers on the first innings can knock up sufficient runs to beat the other side’s total for the two innings, the match shall be decided on the total runs made—not on the first innings. Play to cease_ at 6 p.m.. with an interval of 10 minutes between the innings.”

For the purpose of raising funds to celebrate the jubilee of League cricket the executive unanimously decided that each club be levied 1/- per week during the months of November, December, and January (13 weeks). A sum of £l6 18s will be raised in this manner. Two functions suggested by a sub-committee were approved. On Tebr’.ary 12 next a gala day is to held ■ a t’-e Ov'l. com’'i'' - i"in n ’ r-t 1 -”9 p.m. ' will I e no net'' '’°t day, - n 1 > ' <!pvc -1 ;o ; rncs. ’! n’s i- ■ and en- ■ .•. , . s j,-,-! s of the ■>; a jr.Mlce d:;v ■ s a‘so to be ' lhat night. A ji: M e ball was also suggested. Delegates • are asked to. report on the views of their clubs as to the holding of a jubilee ball.

Congratulations to J. Gould, of the Town Hall Cricket Club, who is the first League batsman this season to reach the century mark. The performance of “ Jimmy ” is all the more meritorious when, the circumstances are taken into account. In the early part of the game he slipped while delivering a ball, strained a muscle in his left leg, and was unable to continue bowling. When he : went in to bat his side was faced with defeat, the opposition—Speight’s—having compiled the good total of 153 runs. Although he gave a couple of chances before becoming properly set, Gould carried his •’at. his 102 taking less than an hour to compile. It contained four 6’s and 15 4’s. Although Speight’s bowling was good he collared it properly. The performances, this season, of the star nlayer of the Town Hall team, with both bat and ball, have been the essence of consistency, and have, in a large measure, been the winning agent in two out of the three matches. His injury will probably keep him from bowling for a Saturday or two, but not from batting.

When the R. and G. wickets were falling fast Alby Turnbull was like the rock of Gibraltar. He was the only batsman' of his side to make double figures, his 41 being more than half of the R. and G. total. Jack Beck (E.P. and L.) was the most successful bowler, taking six for 28. E.P. and L. won this match by four runs, D, Wheeler (30) and T. Gensik being prominent in a good partnership. Adcock’s (R. and G ) bowling was even better than that of the opposition’s star performer.

In the first match this season, in .vhich Lees (M.C.P.) showed such good form, I mentioned him in these notes as a bowler of merit. This young player, last Saturday, when bowling against Loco, had three remarkable overs at the end of which he had six good, batsmen back at the pavilion without having had a run scored off him, and most of these batsmen were cleaned howled. There is only one way to play Lees and the last three Loco, batsmen found out that it paid to go forward rather than back. Lees’ nine wickets for 22 runs, under the conditions prevailing, was. exceptionally good. From the Loco viewpoint it was fortunate that M.C.P., who batted first, had been dismissed cheaply, as at one stage it looked as if their small

’ ■tal of 49 would not be reached. However, Loco, won by 11 runs. • * * •

Reid, bowling for Otago Brush, made short work of the Pride of the Leith batsmen, who were all out for 37 runs. He took seven wickets for 18. Against good bowling five Otago Brush players were good enough bo compile 10 runs or over, A Mason severely punished all the Lodge trundlers, his 59 including two 6’s. Otago Brush won comfortably.

* ; * * • 'Again - No. 1 wicket proved to be a batsman’s paradise, over, 300 runs being scored on it last Saturday in a little over three hours. Speight’s batted first and knocked the Town Hall bowlers all .over the paddock. Both Cullen and Brooks were in great form, the last-named making 47 runs to bo top-scorer with one run .ahead of Cullen. At 3.50 Speight’s were all out for 153. _ It was thought by everyone that Speight’s were on the “ box seat ” when the 140 mark was reached, and their tail-end batsmen very sportingly hit out at anything and literally threw their wickets away. Seven were caught off big hits. At’4 p.m. the Town Hall batsmen commenced their innings with one thought in mind—to play for a draw. When the “ devil’s number ” was reached one wi -t fell; two were down for 19; three for 20; four for 39; and five for 63. Then Murray and Gould (both not out) became associated in, a prolific partnership which carried the score to 160.' The game was all over by 6.30, the rate of scoring in the last hour being two runs a minute—and that was cricket worth watching!

• In eight ■ strokes J. Green made top score (34) for Ravensbourne against Self Help! A. Randall also played a bright innings. However, Self Help dismissed the West Harbour side for 91, and then went in to score nearly double this total. A. and M. Stent were the best of a good batting side.

Realising the importance of coaching, Burts,,have appointed Mr-J. Ryanas coach for this season. Mr Ryan has been in close touch with the team for the past two years. J. M'Donald made, his first appearance against Dunedin Hospital when he knocked up a neat 65 not'out. When seven wickets were down Burts had a total of : 210, W. Woltersdorf and ,N. Morrison each making 56. V, Howard was the better of tbe .two bowlers, securing six for 11. This player has taken 14 wickets this season for art average of 6.5. J. Bissett, as a wicketkeeper, is improving with each game. Dunedin Hospital were disposed of for the email total of 36.

Roslyn Mills were not at full strength against Glenross, S. Muir being on the bank with a strained knee. B. Berry was the best batsman for Roslyn, compiling 43 in even time. It looked at one stage as if the Glenross batsmen would be able to pass the Roslyn Mills total of 102, but B. Berry kept a good length and took six for 32. Berry took a beautiful one-handed catch in the slips, diving for the leather to gather it an inch from the ground. A clever piece of wicketkeeping was seen in the final stages, of this game. The ball rebounded off the ’keeper’s pads and dislodged the bails, when a confident appeal, was heard: “ How’s Fmt?” “ Not out,” said Umpire “ °cobie.” In the excitement of the moment the batsirrn walked out of his m-ease an inch—and like a Cash the off stump was whipped out of the ground by the ’keeper. This time ids appeal was upheld, and the Glenrcss batsmen were all out for 84, Coxhead (22) being at the head of the batting list.

Hillside and Railway had a'close finish, the former winning by six runs. Hayden (19) made top score for Hillside and Howie (30) was the best Railway batsman. .*■’ * * *■ Sixty-six of a respectable total of 223 runs came from the bat of L. Werner, of the Inglis Cricket Club, wMch defeated Telegineers by 95 runs. Most of the Inglis batsmen shaped well, R. and 6. Watt, R. Werner and J. Boucher being worthy of special mention. Spenee mad© a third of the Telegineenrs’ total of 128.

What the writer saw of the Tramways v. United game was not good cricket. A misunderstanding by a Tramways batsman saw one of his mates out. Shortly after another player was nearly run nut. Tramways won by 19 runs. Both sides made small totals.

The match between Post Office and Red G. provided a very exciting finish. Post Office batted first and four wickets were down for 15 runs when two hard hitters—Russelj and Smallman—became associated in a partnershin which realised about 50 runs. Boyd and Henry batted carefully to reach double figures _ When Day took a good catch iust inside the boundary the Post Office innings closed with 102 runs on the board. Red G-. also started badly, Roberts skied a ball from Bussell. and the incoming batsman failed to score. Rxaeh, who had been batting very soundly, played all over one from Templeton and was bowled. A good partnership between Day and Cassidv was broken when Day was inn out Allowing a good return by Russell. The remaining batsmen went cheaply, leaving Post Office the victors hv eight runs. A remarkahlv good bowling performance was put up bv Templeton, of the Post Office team, who obtained five tvidWs for Ifi runs, off 11 overs, six of which were mn’dens. Ricoh abo bowled well for Red O. to take six for 37. off eight overs. The catching on both sides was natchy. Smallman, for Post Office, took three, the last one of which was a particularly good effort Lett’s one-handed catch was a good' one. However, both sides missed “ sitters.”